Page 91 of How To Tempt A Bodyguard

"Hm." He scratched his head slowly, his brow furrowing. "Maybe I'm not as smart about women as I thought."

He turned and shuffled out, closing the door softly behind him.

Florence stood alone in the small room, listening to his footsteps fade.

Then she sat on the edge of the bed, pressed her hands to her face, and let the silence swallow her whole.

Florence waited.

The small room grew dark as the oil lamp burned low. She sat on the edge of the bed, then lay down, then sat up again. Her mind churned: Isabelle's dismissive gaze, Matthew's oblivious request, the way he'd walked away without looking back.

She told herself she wouldn't sleep. Would lay herself bare and find answers to her question. But exhaustion was a relentless enemy. The days of travel caught up with her all at once. Her eyes grew heavy. Her thoughts blurred.

She didn't remember lying down. Didn't remember pulling the thin blanket over herself.

She only knew she was asleep when the creak of the door woke her.

Footsteps. Soft but heavy. The rustle of clothing being removed. The dip of the mattress as weight settled beside her.

Matthew.

Florence kept her breathing slow. Even. She wasn't ready to face him. Wasn't sure what she'd say if she opened her eyes.

"I know you're awake."

His voice was quiet. Rough with emotion he couldn't hide.

She didn't move. Didn't respond.

"Florence."

Silence.

A sigh. She felt him shift, felt the warmth of him behind her, close but not touching.

"I'm sorry," he said. "For taking so long."

She stared at the wall, her back to him. "Are you?"

"Isabelle... she took me by surprise. I didn't expect to see her here."

She wanted to scream but focused on her breathing instead.

"She thought…" She heard the gritty rasp of his callused palm dragging over unshaven stubble. He started again. "She'd assumed, if I ever married, it would be her."

Florence clenched her fists under the pillow, her pulse thumping in her ear. When she trusted her voice to stay even, she spoke. "What did you tell her?"

"The truth. That I never loved her. That I hadn't seen her in years."

"Did she ask why you chose me?"

"Yes."

"What did you say?"

"I told her you needed my help. That Carrick was hunting you. That marriage was the only way to keep you safe."

Her heart squeezed painfully. Florence felt the tears prick at her eyes. She blinked them back furiously.